One of the best looking years for Honda. My friend had this bike. I had the blood red 1988 CR 250. One of the best bikes I have ever owned. The switch to the blood red was pretty cool as well.
After years of toiling on YZ's 86' was my first CR. I remember my Dad and I saying during the initial prep work on the bike "we should have went Red years ago"! SO much easier to service then the YZ. I eventually had Pro Circuit port my cylinder and cut the head- that bike ripped! So much so that I also had the 87', which for me was a step back. Motor was better in 86' IMO, hated the "improved" forks, ATAC was different design= high maintenance and ended up going Ohlins shock after not coming to terms with the 87' Showa. Fond memories of that 86' CR125👍
My first bike was an 86 CR80 Bought it in 95 with probably an original unrebuilt motor. That bike was still fast as hell. I wouldn't mind finding another. One just to restore.
After YZ's I raced Honda 82-86. The 1986 CR 125 with Öhlins shock, reworked forks and heavier flywheel was one of my favorite bikes of all time! It handled like a dream and I won a lot of races in California. It never had any tank slapping. Y'all must have not set it up correctly.
Still have my 86 CR125 The review was right on! That head shake could be bad , had a crash once because of it. Ripped my hands off the bars lol. Still love her though 👌
I had one of these!! I learned how to go much faster on this bike and many that rode it liked it much better than their ride. Great CR, except for the corrosion in the cover by the waterpump.
Hi Tony have you covered the cr125 2002 or the 2000's other than just the 2000 one ? I have an 02 currently so was just interested, I also have a 1998 vertemati, a 2002 vor and 2021 TM 300enfi four-stroke and a 2022 TM 300mxes 2 stroke
The 86 was faster , more low end mid and not tons up top but was just all around faster. The suspension was better on the 86 too though the forks were soft. It's was just like the 85 but a little better everywhere. It was close to perfect right out of the box.
Tony, i do not understand how you can compare a production bike to a factory bike. There is a huge differance between the two. Production rule or not. The factories still have the best bikes.. Production bikes verses production bikes i'm with you on those. Anyways, like watching your video's. I raced in the early 80's and your videos take me back to the good old days.
Great video. The 86 CR125 was an incredible machine. Still have my 87 CR125.
I had the 1987 version and she was a rocket!
One of the best looking years for Honda. My friend had this bike. I had the blood red 1988 CR 250. One of the best bikes I have ever owned. The switch to the blood red was pretty cool as well.
I'd forgotten all about the blood red ones, 2 years only I think they did that for
After years of toiling on YZ's 86' was my first CR. I remember my Dad and I saying during the initial prep work on the bike "we should have went Red years ago"! SO much easier to service then the YZ. I eventually had Pro Circuit port my cylinder and cut the head- that bike ripped! So much so that I also had the 87', which for me was a step back. Motor was better in 86' IMO, hated the "improved" forks, ATAC was different design= high maintenance and ended up going Ohlins shock after not coming to terms with the 87' Showa.
Fond memories of that 86' CR125👍
Exactly u could take the entire Honda apart w 3 tools and took 5.tools just to get the air filter off the Yamaha lol
My first bike was an 86 CR80
Bought it in 95 with probably an original unrebuilt motor. That bike was still fast as hell. I wouldn't mind finding another. One just to restore.
Agree they were a rocket had an 83 and couldn’t believe difference when I got an 86, when I got a 89 yz125 it didn’t seem much faster.
After YZ's I raced Honda 82-86. The 1986 CR 125 with Öhlins shock, reworked forks and heavier flywheel was one of my favorite bikes of all time! It handled like a dream and I won a lot of races in California. It never had any tank slapping. Y'all must have not set it up correctly.
Great story, that was the first brand new bike I ever bought myself from a dealership and the first bike I ever raced ! Love that bike!!
They were great machines
1986 was AWESOME, I could run through walls, now I'm over the half century mark it's a total trip, I love getting old just for the buzz
I loved that bike !!! The 1986 CR 250 too
# 1 fan from Pittsburgh
Gene
excellent! thank you for all your work, much appreciated! I'm saying that for me and all those who don't speak up. keep up the great work
Much appreciated
Excellent review man.
Enjoyed the review Tony
Good job Tony! keep up the good work. Owned this bike. Great memories.
Still have my 86 CR125
The review was right on!
That head shake could be bad , had a crash once because of it. Ripped my hands off the bars lol.
Still love her though 👌
That happened to me on more than one occasion on my '87 CR125R. That headshake was viscous.
Great, as usual!
84 kawasaki 125 LOOKS STUNNING
Something about the 86 CR125, just looks right.
Yes it does. Gold rims...
I had one of these!! I learned how to go much faster on this bike and many that rode it liked it much better than their ride. Great CR, except for the corrosion in the cover by the waterpump.
Yeah that did not show up at first but it is a major concern if you buy one now.
They all look beautiful, I see Brad on an rm 👍
Watching this bc i found one i wanna buy
Thanks Tony, Any chance you can do history of the CR125 like you have done for the rest of the CR range
Cheers From oz
Yes I will
Hi Tony have you covered the cr125 2002 or the 2000's other than just the 2000 one ? I have an 02 currently so was just interested, I also have a 1998 vertemati, a 2002 vor and 2021 TM 300enfi four-stroke and a 2022 TM 300mxes 2 stroke
Not yet but I will be in the future
You should do a video on the XL hondas
What are the differences between a 1985 and 1986 CR 125? I have a ‘85 with DG pipe but want to know what I can do to upgrade it
The 86 was faster , more low end mid and not tons up top but was just all around faster. The suspension was better on the 86 too though the forks were soft. It's was just like the 85 but a little better everywhere. It was close to perfect right out of the box.
Perhaps I would argue the 86 cr125 was the best box stock 125 ever. At least up to that point it was .
My daily request of the review for the 1986 through 89 FourTrax 250 R
Great video but which had more horse power the 86 or the 89
The 1986 has more torque but the 1989 is much faster from midrange to the top
Red rocket I owned the 86 80cc back in the day kept blowing water jackets every ride
Great bike I raced yz,s and had to deal with them everyend
Weekend
I'd love Johnny Omaras 125 , that engineer of his really tweaked that baby close to 40bhp
No way that thing had 40hp. Maybe 30.
The Bearded Hipster Model makes me want to buy that shirt.Psych.I prefer a Bald Taco.
LOL
Tony, i do not understand how you can compare a production bike to a factory bike. There is a huge differance between the two. Production rule or not. The factories still have the best bikes.. Production bikes verses production bikes i'm with you on those. Anyways, like watching your video's. I raced in the early 80's and your videos take me back to the good old days.
I was not comparing them other than to mention the arrival of the Prodution Rule
@@TheMotocrossVault Ok Tony. I misunderstood..
I think you need a bradshaw shirt. Have a punchey fist in the background. That would be cool
Weekend
All my honda seemed to ooze quality, Kawasakis were always quick but parts would fall off lmso, kickstart fell off 😄
Yep your right on Tony. By far best of 1986. I had the 87 model which might have been even better!!!
I loved my 1987 CR125R